07/22/2008
Of Reeds and Bach and Camden times
I have new reeds. Howarths also offer a very nice Student discount on their reeds so I got 5 reeds and C. P. E. Bach's Sonta in G minor for something silly like £60. :D This equals a slightly excitable (and excited) Ruth. ~ apparently this is a good thing and should be repeated. I also very much like the fact that I can walk in, borrow an oboe and TRY all the reeds before I buy them. This way I have a very good set to take away that includes:
- Some playable now (i.e. 40mins to blow in)
- Some playable later (i.e. a few days/ weeks)
- Some beautifully rich
- Some more piercing but easier to play for rehearsals or long scales/fingerwork practises
It is strange though... I've started reading around science again. Or just having conversations with people. Like the other night we were at the pub and ended up discussing quantum physics vs evolution vs global change vs environment with two complete randomer's who joined our table. I sort of wish I had the confidence to do that - just join a table. But hey, there is time I s'pose. Great conversation though.
Or the other day trying to work out if there was any logic in allowing extra-terrestrial races (in sci-fi plots) to have both evolved, peaked and then died into nothing long before human technology allows us to discover the ruins. The argument was that we have to assume that the big bang is a limiting factor for all species. We also have to assume that is takes a certain length of time to form a planet and then form a planet capable of supporting life (even if their equivilent of a respiratory pigment isn't oxygen). The species on this planet then have to evolve conciousness, then industry, then technology. Ok, planets form at different times and species evolve in different ways and at different rates depending on the selection pressure and the nature of the species (gestation period being a rather obvious limiting factor). But, is there really enough lee-way to invent entire species of *higher* beings that have lived and died whilst our planet was still in its infancy?
I don't think I can actually answer this as I don't know enough about the time frame of the history of the Universe, but I would guess not. Particularly as most of these races seem to be far more technologically advanced and therefore will have developed ways to make themselves resiliant to extinction (so to speak). Mind you, it is true that they tend to have bewiped out by some catastrophy or other and then our daring human pilots and scientists can go in and use all this amazing alien technology that can be so easily adapted for human (no alien) use! ... but that is another debate.
Stuart is now laughing at me. Apparently my disdain for his reed-soaking abilities is comical! (NEW REEDS)
Anyway... it seems the dichotomy is still there. Music? Science? Music and science? Teaching? Performing? Writing? Lifeguarding? Proffesional snake charmer? ... and I still want to own that cafe!
Poly-chotomy seems a more appropriate term.
But I fear I am being anti-social and shall vanish (like magic, or some strange alien technology :P) - forgive me my childishness, new music does this to me!
xXx
20:40 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , Music , Science , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (1) | Email this
06/02/2008
BCD Clock
The people at my Dad's work think I'm geeky.
They might also have evidense to support this.
When I saw this my face lit up, my eyes shone, I lost all power's of speech and valid communication and trails of green smoke trailed across the room. It is sooo soooo cool! I mean REALLY cool. As in just *the best* idea ever. It's just pretty :D And cool... and .... and ... and I WANT ONE!
Actually... screw that. Having seen that website, I want to make one. But I'll settle for buying one at the moment as I don't have the time or parts or time... really it's just the time.
Apparently... liking my decimal clocks to be coded in base two is somewhat geeky. Apparently this is a characteristic that is of significant note in any Homo sapien with two x chromosomes. Apparently I became a talking point at his work for a few days after this revelation.
I also like logical/maths puzzels and do them for fun. I think xkcd is hilareous. OOTS isn't too bad either. I play dungeons and dragons and have dipped into various other role-play games. I need to know how things work. I am more than happy to read copious volumes of Sci-Fi, and then point out all the physical impossabilities and how it could have been made more accurate. The most entertaining game I have played in the last 18 months is one that involves leaning magentic pieces up against each other so that the the repulsice forces balance and they stay upright (I need to practise seeing magnetic fields on the playing area). I am happy to spend hours looking over the schematics for a light confocal microscope trying (sometimes in vain) to understand. I will grin inanely once I have solved a difficult problem. And I will shout at youif you give me the answers first (unless it is tiresome integration and I am in a bad mood).
Have we cleared this up now :P
xXx
10:02 Posted in Science | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
05/13/2008
A Dominant pedal in Biology!
Ok. Here is the other "half" of the story... this has taken me 2 hours. I did not do this set of notes from memory (the first bit on the Menstural Cycle was). It is 3 pages long in MSWord and I don't expect anyone to read it properly. I am just rather proud of it as it is the most work I've done in biology in 18 months!
It is also a good retort to any idiot male who complains he can't understand women - of course he can't! It is written into our bloody physiology!!!!!!!!
I'm not kidding when I say anyone would think we weren't meant to reproduce.
Hormones are in bold, couldn't be bothered to put scientific words into italics, instead *my* comments are initalics.
Oogenisis – the female side
Ok. So here is the complicated one… *breathes deeply*… and begins.
Once again the hypothalamus has overall control over this process – being the link between the nervous and chemical systems in the body, that sort of makes sense. Once again GnRH is released and travels the short distance to the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland. Again two hormones are released: LH (Lutenising Hormone (=ISCH)) and FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone).
Right now things begin to alter slightly. The female process of oogenisis (generation of the egg cell) is not continuous but cyclical and begins before birth. As the ovaries develop in the female embryo, meiosis one begins in the germinal epithelial layer and is halted in prophase one. The ovaries also produce follicle cells which surround the oogonia to form primary follicles.
Basically the soon-to-be-egg cells begin to divide and at frozen part way through the process with the DNA condensed into chromosomes and grouped into homologous (same-sized) pairs. The cells are then surrounded by a layer of other, smaller cells.
Meiosis one is halted at birth and the process cannot resume until puberty occurs and the menstrual cycle begins. (JOY!) This cycle varies between females, but for ease of communication the cycle is “averaged” out over 28 days.
OK, back to Biology. FSH is released from the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland and travels in the blood to the ovaries where it stimulates the continuation of meiosis one. The layers of surrounding cells builds up and a theca layer developes (from the tissue of the ovary) to create a primary oocyte within a primary follicle. The theca layer secretes oestrogen which has a number of functions including:
• Promotes secondary sexual characteristics in females
• Inhibits FSH production to prevent the development of a second oogonia.
• Builds up and prepares the endometrial layer (blood layer) in the uterus
The first meiotic split is completed and one of the haploid cells degenerates into a polar body that has no known purpose. The follicle continues to mature into a Graafian Follicle and oestrogen levels continue to rise. At day 14 of the cycle the oestrogen levels peak and (once over a threshold level) stimulate (not inhibit) the release of FSH and LH.
The production of a Graafian Follicle occurs moving in towards the centre of the ovary; LH stimulates the eruption of the primary oocyte out from the ovary into the oviduct (Fallopian Tube). This can apparently cause a little bleeding as the oocyte is the largest cell in a human body and some women claim to be able to feel the release occurring.)
Here the story splits into two:
The remainder of the Graafian Follicle develops into a Corpus Luteum (or Yellow Body) that produces progesterone (and oestrogen). Progesterone helps to maintain the endometrial layer and also inhibits FSH and LH so no new oogonia are developed.
The primary oocyte travels along the oviduct to the uterus and can survive only a couple of days, without fertilisation, before it degenerates. And then the story splits again….
If fertilisation does not occur, then the primary oocyte dies and shortly afterwards the corpus luteum degenerates. Progesterone and Oestrogen levels fall again and FSH and LH are no longer inhibited. FSH levels rise and stimulate the development of another oogonia and primary follicle to mature to a Graafian Follicle. The endometrial layer decomposes and menstruation occurs.
On The Other Hand…
Long lines of mucus in the uterus provide lines for sperm to swim easily along and guide their travel to the oviducts. The contraction of the uterus (presumably through oxytocin release) also aids this movement. If a sperm meets the primary oocyte, the acrosome layer breaks through the wall of the primary oocyte and stimulates the second division – meiosis two – to create a secondary oocyte. The secondary polar body produced here is again redundant material. The wall of the ovum becomes impermeable to other sperm to prevent double fertilization. The genetic material from the single sperm cell is incorporated into the DNA of the secondary oocyte to form an ovum.
Interesting… sperm are 50um long whilst a secondary oocyte is 140um in diameter! (that is visible to some people!)…. Just visualise it!
This ovum travels down the oviduct to the uterus and (hopefully) imbeds in the endometrial layer. The cell releases hCG (human chorionic gonadotrophin) that prevents the degeneration of the corpus luteum for roughly 12 weeks until the placenta is fully developed. After 12 weeks the placenta takes over the role of producing oestrogen and progesterone that maintain the endometrial layer and prevent the development of another oocyte by inhibiting FSH and LH. Progesterone also relaxes the muscles in the uterus wall to prevent damage to the foetus and potential miscarriage.
Back to placenta: the embryo developing a Chorion layer that protrudes into the uterus wall and forms finger-like protrusions called Choronic villi that have microvilli on the external side of the epithelial cell (outside) layer. Inside these villi a network of blood vessels bring the foetal blood close to the mother’s blood supply in the endometrial layer, so that diffusion can occur – note the two blood supplies never mix.
The foetal heart pumps (faster than the mother) deoxygenated blood out along the umbilical arteries. Gas exchange and exchange of nutrients / hormones / antibodies / urea occurs and fresh blood is transported back to the developing foetus along umbilical veins. HPL (Human Placental Lactogen) is involved in the development of breasts during pregnancy and adjusts the mother’s glucose and fat respiration to the advantage of the foetus. Most bacteria cannot cross the placental barrier but viruses such as Rubella and HIV can.
The foetus develops surrounded by a protective amniotic sac containing amniotic fluid. After roughly 38 weeks the level of progesterone decreases rapidly whilst the level of oestrogen increases. This makes the uterus more susceptible to oxytocin which is a neurotransmitter / hormone produced by the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. This causes the uterus to contract and the cervix begins to dilate (over a time period of up to 12 hours). A mucus plug that has blocked the cervix during pregnancy detaches and passes out through the vagina and the amniotic sac bursts. Hopefully the foetus has had the sense (and kindness) to rotate around so they can leave the uterus headfirst! (The opposite is a breach-birth and is even more painful!) A rare example of positive feedback: the high levels of oxytocin in the blood during labour, stimulates the release of more oxytocin. The rate of contractions increases steadily and when the cervix has dilated to 10cm diameter then head “engages” and the baby begins to emerge.
(I am slightly confused here: the baby’s skull is not yet fused together… so how does pushing it repeatedly very hard against the cervix and the pelvis not cause damage??)
Once the baby is in air they (We NEED a better gender-neutral pronoun!) begins to breathe and the umbilical cord is cut and tied off. Final contractions of the uterus cause the placental structures to detach from the endometrial layer and pass out of the vagina. Over the following weeks the (deciduous) endometrial layer decomposes and is also lost as progesterone and oestrogen levels fall again.
The final part of the female reproductive cycle is lactation. During pregnancy the presence of HPL (Human Placental Lactogen) allows oestrogen to stimulate the development of the duct systems in the breasts and progesterone to stimulate the development of milk glands. The high levels of progesterone and oestrogen also inhibit the production of prolactin.
After birth, as progesterone and oestrogen levels fall PRF (Prolactin Releasing Factor) is released from the hypothalamus and stimulates the anterior lobe of the pituitary gland to produce prolactin that is responsible for the production of milk. The milk contains lactose (glucose + galactose) along with fat, minerals, vitamins that are easy to digest. There is also a selection of the mother’s antibodies and viruses such as HIV (if she is positive). The suckling action of the baby stimulates nerves in the nipples that send messages to the hypothalamus to release PRF and to the posterior pituitary gland to produce oxytocin. Oxytocin causes the involuntary muscles around the milk glands to contract to force milk through the ducts and out through the nipple. PRF also causes the release of prolactin so the production of milk is maintained.
This process obviously only occurs when the baby is suckling.
xXx
21:02 Posted in Life , School , Science | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
05/12/2008
On a biological brethe
OK... so whoever designed the human reproductive system was HIGH! Seriously.... let me give you a brief lesson. Hormones are in bold, other scientific words that I need to learn to spell (and that you might not know) are in italics.
Spermatogenisis (the male side)
The hypothalamus (in the brain) releases GnRH (Gonadatrophic Releasing Hormone - Gonads being the sex organs). This travels the short distance south to the Anterior Pituitary Gland. The Anterior Lobe of the Pituitary Gland is stimulated to produce FSH (Follicle Stimulating Hormone) and ISCH (Intersticial Cell Stimulating Hormone - female equivilent is LH). These hormones then travel the long distances through many blood vessels to the testicles.
Now we need some anatomy. The testis is compised of seminiferous tubules (that make sperm) and then cells that make up the tissue between the tubules such as blood vessels and other intersticial cells. ISCH stimulates the intersticial cells to produce testosterone. Testosterone has several functions. The one you will all know is stiumlating the onset of secondary sexual characteristics in prepubescent males (poor things). Testosterone also stiumlate sertoli cells and inhibits the production of GnRH (more on that later).
Back to the seminiferous tubules. The walls of these tubules are comprised of highly specialised sertoli cells that govern the process of spermatogenisis. The outer cell layer of these tubules is a germinal epithelial layer - a source of unspecialised cells that can be transformed into sperm. These cells undergo meiosis, splitting twice to form 4 haploid cells - half the number of chromosomes. The first meiotic split halves the DNA content of the cell and create two haploid gametes (primary spermatocytes), the second split is just a staightforward cloning (as in mitosis) to produce the 4 haploid secondary spermatocytes.
The sertoli cell then governs the specification of these into spermatids and the sperm. This process involves the creation of a long flagellum (tail), production of many mitochondria in the middle piece to fuel the movement of the sperm, the digestion of the cell cytoplasm to reduce bulk and the production of an acrosome layer on the head of the spem which contains enzymes to break through the wall of the developed ovule (technically secondary oocyte).
The process of spermatogenis occurs from the external wall of the seminiferous tubule (the germinal epithelium) inwards towards the lumen (empty space of the tubule) in the centre. In effect average/normal cells go in on the outside and then fully fledged sperm are collected in seminiferous tubules as part of a continuous cycle.
This cycle is regulated by the inhibiting effects of testosterone and the inhibin produced as a by product of the action of sertoli cells. These two hormones stimulate the hypothalamus into *not* producing GnRH and therefore the Anterior Lobe of the Pituitary Gland is not stiumlated to produce ISCH and FSH. Consequently the rate of spermatogensis falls. Once the levels of inhibin and testosterone fall again then the is less (indirect) inhibition of ISCH and FSH and the rate of spermatogenisis rises. This is an example of the negative feedback of certain products (or by-products) of a reaction to maintain homeostasis.
Ok. So we have our sperm. The sperm produced and collected in the seminiferous tubules pass into small ducts called the vasa efferentia and then into the epididymis where they can be stored for up to 18 hours. Prior to ejaculation the sperm are moved the vas deferens (a muscular tube), the seminal vesicle releases mucus whilst the ejaculatory glands release an alkali solution to neutralise vaginal acids (Prostate Gland) and a solution of sugars to provide energy for the sperm on their travels (Coweper's Gland). This is mixture has now formed semen which will be released from the urethra by ejaculation.
Ejaculation is stimulated by increased supply of blood to the spongy tissue in the penis causing it to swell and harden and stiumlating the contaction of errectile tissue. Physical contact stimulates the glans penis which causes the muscles along the ejaculatory tract (the epididymis to the urethra) to contract moving the sperm/semen through the tract via peristalsis and finally the contraction of the urethra results in ejaculation.
Inside the femal the force of ejaculation propels *some* sperm into the uterus (/top of the vagina). In three days the sperm will have "swum" to the oviduct. Out of 500 million sperm only a few hundred reach the oocyte. Only one can ever fertilise.
It is interesting to note that there are also hormones in semen that stimulate muscular contraction of the uterus/oviducts to help the sperm reach the oocyte and improve the probability of fertilisation. There are only 5 million sperm in 5cm^3 of semen. The testies hang outside the body because the reactions involved occur at an optimum temperature of 35 degrees celcius.
WOW hasn't that taken the fun out of it!
And if you think that that might be a little complicated... sometime I might try to explain the female system which is approximately 4.7 times worse.
Anyone would think the intention of the entire process was failure... it certainally causes a significant stumbling block for most A Level students - And this really is the easy one.
I have decided this is a good way to revise. :P
xXx
19:12 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , School , Science | Permalink | Comments (4) | Email this
05/28/2007
Update
What have I been up to... In no particular Order:
- Baking bread
- Revising - Music and Biology
- Failing music tests... well a high B, but not happy with it
- Running... 3-4 miles into town and then cycled back. No stops. I didn't think I was physically capable of that!!
- Listening to Music
- Reading watching the English
- Cycling until Emma's back tyre went flat and we had to sit in the middle Melbourne to wait for my Dad to arrive
- Looking at jobs, gap year andoutdoor sports qualifications
They are right... Facebook is going to make us all fail our exams.
Im torn in three now:
Music: Organ, Choirs, creativity, relaxing, somthing beautiful, teaching... Needs a lot of work but it isn't impossible f I work especially as I now basically down to 2 instruments after the summer (Organ and Oboe). I love music and it is essential to relax etc. but unless I go to teaching or professional the most I'll be doing is Organ plus the odd jazz/pub gig singing and maybe the odd orchestra. Basically fun stuff... Church organ post would be nice though - it's good to feel you can do something for your church
Science: The feeling of discovering something *new*, excitement, novelty, intelectual, conversation. Working with people with similar interests and feeling like I'm doing something. The practical and constant alertness aspect is also good. It's a challenge and it's fun.
Outdoors: Nothing better than standing at the top of a mountain and looking out, or skimming the water at 10 knots... that feeling of freedom and liberty that you get no where else... The one thing that *always* makes me happier. I have jsut started to realise I am actually capable of doing this and there is nothing stopping me once I have the instructor qualifications. And currently I really really do want to.
But I don't know... Atm I think I am going to get the qualifications I can, Work in a school for a gap year as a music/sport/science person (whichever they want or all three), take a degree in science... and then see which offers a job first. Or which one ends up letting me travel the most and get outdoors and on water the most. I don't like have such a wide ranging general direction to be headed it unnerves me. Anything could happen... simultaneously stimulating, scary and exciting. I'm not used to it, everything used to be so clear. All I have to hang on to is that whatever happens there will be a job and a life at the end of it.
Doesn't make sitting in classrooms working and easier when you know you could get a job without the irritation!
xXx
21:20 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , Science , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
05/11/2007
At the lab
And I'm back again... with a paper to read for July 1st and a list of techniques I need to revise and memorise for the same date. And I'm loving it. Pure science. Pictures and proteins and cells and more than anything else *thinking*. Looking at something and saying "well ok... this does this... but how does it... and can it..." :D Nothing is final and it's brilliant.
Working with Sasha this time around which will be good... and at a reasonable level. The aim is to extend on what I did last time. So here it is: This time what I do needs to work. Last time most of my stuff did work so this should not pose much of a problem - (note the famous last words!). I can't believe I am saying I am looking forward to a time when getting up each morning is not a chore but something worth doing, and when sleep comes easily because I've actually spent the day working! ! ! But it is true.
I have also decided something. Freedom suits me. Whether is is literally getting on a train and going somewhere, freedom to think as I wish, freedom from a relationship or freedom from myself... it suits me and I like it. Feel free to disagree with me... that is your very special privilege which I wouldn't dream of denying you.
Question: Are we a nation of unemployed graduates and not enough plumber and electricians? Where does the requirement to have "a degree" stem from? Does replacing old vocational courses with "Agricultural Studies" (gardening) or "Surfing Studies" (duh!) or "Resistant Material Practical Engineering" (Carpentry/Joinery/metalwork!) serve any purpose? Why do we recommend academia for all, instead of encouraging potential and aptitude specific to each person?
Any ideas?
xXx
14:20 Posted in Life , Science , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
02/01/2007
I hate this world
http://www.newscientist.com/blog/shortsharpscience/2007/01/cheap-and-simple-cure-for-cancer.html
Wednesday, January 17, 2007
A cheap and simple cure for cancer?
New Scientist has received an unprecedented amount of interest in this story from readers. If you would like up-to-date information on any plans for clinical trials of DCA in patients with cancer, or would like to donate towards a fund for such trials, please visit the site set up by the University of Alberta and the Alberta Cancer Board. We will also follow events closely and will report any progress as it happens.
It is rare to find a drug that sweeps away decades of assumptions and reveals a radical approach to treating all forms of a disease. But a simple, small molecule called dichloroacetate (DCA) has done just that - and to that most dreaded of diseases: cancer.
The new findings, might also force a rethink on what actually causes cells to turn cancerous in the first place.
In 1930, biochemist Otto Warburg, proposed that cells turn cancerous through a fundamental change in the way they generate their energy. Normally, cells use specialised organelles called mitochondria to supply their energy. Cancer cells shift to a process called glycolysis which takes place in the main body of the cell. Glycolysis is an inefficient system of making energy which normal cells employ only when oxygen is in short supply, switching to mitochondrial energy production when oxygen levels increase.
Curiously, Warburg discovered that cancer cells continue to use glycolysis even when oxygen is plentiful. He called this the "Warburg effect", and claimed it was common to all cancer cells.
His ideas were dismissed and buried long ago, not least when another famous biochemist, Hans Krebs, said the Warburg effect was a symptom of cancer, not the primary cause. This scepticism was reinforced by the belief that cancer cells switch to glycolysis because their mitochondria are damaged and don't work any more.
Enter DCA, which has been used for years to treat people with mitochondrial disease. The drug boosts the ability of mitochondria to generate energy. When given to cancer cells it did the same: the cells switched from glycolysis to mitochondrial energy production. What's more, functional mitochondria help cells recognise functional abnormalities and trigger cell death.
In tests, the DCA caused cancer cells to lose their "immortality" and die. When the drug was given to rats with human tumours, the tumours shrank. Warburg may have been right after all - glycolysis may be more than just a symptom of cancer.
So why not rush straight into clinical trials with this drug? It is cheap, does not appear to affect normal cells, we know its side effects, and it should work on all cancers.
There's a hitch: dichloroacetate is an old drug and so cannot be patented. The upshot is that pharmaceutical companies can't stop rivals making and selling it more cheaply, so it's not worth their while to go to the huge expense of testing it in clinical trials.
This is not a new problem. Many drugs are left on the shelf because companies cannot make lots of money from them. It has happened for diseases that affect mainly poor people, such as TB, although there are now an increasing number of initiatives to help deal with these cases. But cancer is historically a disease that chiefly afflicts the rich, and testing DCA will need a one-off effort.
Drugs companies will be falling over themselves to find a patentable drug with similar action to DCA. Any of these that reach the market will be hugely expensive. It would be a scandal if a cheap alternative with such astonishing potential were not given a chance simply because it won't turn a big enough profit.
Andy Coghlan, senior reporter
10:36 Posted in News , Science | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
07/07/2006
I DECLARE WAR!!
I am now going to commit the Number 1 stupidity and declare war on 2 fronts simulataneously!
- ALL thunderbugs, or any such insects must from no on avoid entering: my mouth, my eyes (behing sunglasses), my nose, my ears or down my top and they will desist from using me as a free ride to Sawston, Chesterton, CherryHinton or any otherplace. the only insects who have permission to do this are moths and butterflys because they are pretty but I have a feeling that i cycle too fast for them - wind turbulance.
- I will personally STRANGLE the next male jerk of any species, race, age or creed who decides it is a good idea to whistle, shout uninteligable garbage or honk their horn at me whilst I go past!
Actually amusing comment from that: I was talking with a friend and her very "*young*" 10 year old sister from a reasonabky conservative household say "They do it because they think your pretty, men like pretty girls!"..... what do you say? "yeeeeees.... I dont think that was quite the reason". her sister was sitting behind her and cracking up - it wasnt fair. Particularly as the case I had been talking about was a sweaty 50 year old builder with a too small vest top that hasnt been washed for a few weeks and a beer belly 3 times the size of his head! !!
Actually I dont have a clue why they decided to do it - I was cycling past wearing jeans and a strap top that isnt low cut! argh! what am I meant to do.... reminded of the the line "girls in slacks desguise their gender" for any of you sailing friends REMEBER THE YELLOW WATERPROOFS! But there is no way I am going to wear any more clothing in this heat, I'll pass out!
On other notes:
Charlie played Misty at the gig on Wednesday - REALLY well though not quite as touching as when Lynette sang it with her husband accompanying on his 40th birthday which was so lovely! Gorgeous song and I have just discovered I have the piano part for it so been playing it (somewhat inaccuratly due to arm!) far too much accoridng to everyone else (except Dad who just sits and listens and then points out he needs to go and if I want to know the way to stop now and come have a look at the map!)
Actually the entire evening was very good. :D and ended up giving numberous piggy backs and swinging young children around in large circles. :D was very fun but I hope their Mum didn't get annoyed at them because of it. :S that would be very sad - not that i think it would actually change anything.
There is something (however irritating they can be) about spending time with young children. Its nothing to do with their actual circumstances being particulrly happier - unfortunately this isn't true at all :S - its their amazing ability to live in the moment. I babysat last night, well part of last night, and apparently Edmund was up since six going "Can i go into Ruth now can I go into Ruth now!" then almost bang on the dot of 7 loud thud as Mahoney gets out of bed and knock on door and 2 highly excited kids jumping on me. I was already awake and it was so funny, great way to start the day. I can also admit that it wouldnt have been as enjoyable if I were in a bad mood/had a headache/6th day running! so please no "just you waits" from various parents!
went to pamper evening last night as well which was very fun, spent long time talking to one of Jane's friends about Medicine and Cambridge etc. Also quizzed Hannah about her engagement (She wouldnt say ANYTHING!) and spent a long time eating all the fruit from the fondue - too hot for anything else I am living off fruit atm! Then sat and stared at the (unfortunately not that cute) guys working out and solved life's problems. Girly evenings are great :P we need another sleepover and SOON! (with chocoalte and a good film we havnt seen before!)
Also had an interesting conversation with katie last night in which I learnt a couple of things I did want to know and an extraordianry number which I really would rather not know. They are going to make a number of things very awkward indeed :S Strange for me to "rather not know!" something, completely out of character, but I *was* doing a good job of ignoring this until last night. Thank you very much Katie :P (Your obsessed :P) - on a serious note, probably better to know than not know.
Isn't it strange how we replace the dead with the living. Mourning with a collection of vivid colours, a poor reminder to what was lostl; a temporary substitution before they too fade.
Flowers by the railway line, I dont know the person, surprised they've lasted this long.
The cold room has broken, it is now hotter than the corridoor! They are trying to fix it but by now most of the proteins are degrading and it stinks! being full of everyones agar plates and many billion bacteria! lol...... rather irritating. Other than that things seem to be going well :D Cant believe its half way through :S
thats all folks
xXx
09:27 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Fun , Funny , Life , Science , Thoughts | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
06/29/2006
Of cabbages and kings
Thanks to ed :D
a) pick up a book which is the closest to you at the moment
b) open page 123
c) find the third sentence
d) post it in your Live Journal (plus the instructions)
e) don't choose the book, just pick up the one closest to you
"here once again we begin to approach the issue of calling, since dreaming dreams is another aspect of the search for God's call to you"
Work:
- I have done 2 sucessful PCRs! and one of the unsucessful was sequenced wrongly :D
- I can remember what I'm meant to be doing - up to about 10 things exactly :D
- My basic hand skills have dramatically improved with the absense of coffee and presence of sleep
- I almost understand what I'm doing :D.....
- HAVING SOOOO MUCH FUN!!
Ball.... here are the official pictures :D (scroll down to Sawston Leaver's Ball) Im in organge and we came on the bus...... I shall create an albumn of our other pictures and include ones nicked from school when I get them. but and awesome night... all 15 hours of it!
I Hate my hormones!!! oh yeah I'm sure they can be decidedly useful in some specific circumstances!! but atm mine are being stupid. They are trying to persuade me to act against both my heart and mind... and its very disconcerting. Prizes for the person who can think of the best punishment for them!
She is calm
She just keeps moving
She knows it won’t last
But for now she is
Happy
For the first time in so long
She hopes
She dares
To smile
For her
Not for the others
Because she is happy
She is safe
Alone
In the night
She should cycle like this more often
ok, at work early tomorrow so I can get to wind band at 11!! after doing my ligations and transforming them! need to leave about 10.20/10.30.... get in at 8.30..... hmmmm :S i sense some time difficulties! anyhooo....
nightynight
xXx
21:45 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Fun , Life , Poetry , Science | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this
06/27/2006
LMB!!
heh... so much fun!!! makes up for all the boredom and stress and irritatingness of exams! in a number of ways: challenging, first principles instead of random rote learning - stuff that can be reused/applied to other scenarios, great people who can teach me something new and something difficult and SOMETHING FUN!
Several important skills I have (not unexpectedly) lost over the last year
- the extreme spacial awareness necessary in dealing with such small things accurately and safely both in sterile and non-sterile environment
- the ability to remember lists of chemicals, quantities, protocols over a reasonable period of time accurately and recall them quickly
- the muscle control needed for small scale liquid handling to keep hand steady and stuff sterile
- some basic techniques and other things to remember for pipetting etc which can be easily corrected
the majority of these (first 3) take year to learn properly.... but the rate of learning and development of the skills is initially high and then decreases, so it shouldn't take long to bring them back to the level they were at last year, and this time remember that they disappear and maybe try to retain some of them - all being useful skills to have in general
my first PCR didnt work, apparently the DNTP is probably out of date, also i may well have measured out a couple of things wrong as the gloves kept knocking the adjuster! but ah well, repeated and did more today - mildly different protocol which i need to write up - so will see tomorrow... *crosses fingers* dont like repeating the same thing lots, but i suppose i should get used to it! ... just for PCR! .... ah well
also tidying up the lab LOTS! - work experaince student coming in, so all areas being thoroughly scoured! checked and restocked.... its looking scarily presteen in some areas now! will im sure cause some concern for various members who have gone off and are coming back.
need to tidy my room - fortunately do not need to wear gloves for that *dances for joy!!!!!*
also need to do piano and organ and other stuff like that!! :S :S :S :S :S :S :S
a very good friend has managed to get "somewhere over the rainbow!" in my head. An amazing sentiment, if he can provide me with directions I would be most exceedingly grateful! *please!* but on another note the song is very irritating and i dont even know the rest of the words!
thinking very hard, already know what the result will be, but I shall think anyway :S dont ask how that works because i have DEFINITELY not decided yet.
should go *do* now
xXx
16:50 Posted in Science | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
12/01/2005
YEY
I GOT INTO THE LEYS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Music and Academic Scholarship - and enough so I can go! So next year i will be doing
Maths/FurtherMaths - 2 ALevels in space of 1
Biology
Music
Chemistry
Greek AS
I'm so happy about that...
I also got my Autumn Term Reports Today - yey! lol... they were ok, A/A* current and only Sciences and French didn't predict A* - - - French because the teacher believes it puts too much emotional pressure on people (fair enough it may do) and ... sciences because they believe that an A* is complete fluke on the exam day. hmm not so sure, all you need is good exam technique and not to panic - the papers are easy. I got a B in DT (A-E = Good-Bad) for behaviour!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm (again) ASTONISHED! And the same for attitude (!!) That means "very good" huh. Since when has believing your teacher to be a mentally confused slug with the intelligence of a knat - and hopefully the life expectancy, or at least length of time working.... been good attitude?
AAAAnyway.
Knitting... a friend gave me the luuuvely wool. A whole bag of it. (piccy here). I am going to revise curly whirly scarf for sister with that and something else maybe. Then think about big project. Seriously a lot and I can do something v. fun - have to be fairly long and hanging though - too bobbly.
Started Mum's scarf - found some needles :P - which is kool and whislt the pink is very PPPIIINNNKKK... the blue and maroon dull it a little, although i might still sew in some navy. That will be fine. Oh btw. Anne, the wool is from Patons - the mohair I'm using, but I can't find this wool on there, the rest is v. good though.
Got paid for babysitting last night - Money is sooo good. And I have work from two other friends - with a young todler about 4 doors away from me and my Godparents. Which would be so cool because I would go over, babysit, sleep over, see children in the morning and then go home :D:D:D
I also may have work in the same Lab I did work experiance with after my GCSE's. Which would be ace! Nearly all Health and Safety Inhibitations go out the window on January 12th and whilst I wouldn't be working for a salary :'( (yey no beaurocracy (spelling??)) I would only be restricted from handling radioactives and probably some viruses (or all - would need to check that). But It would make doing prep a lot easier without health and safety people breathing down your neck.
So all good atm.... might be happy again soon - lost the lovely feeling for no apparent reason but attempting to regain it.
xXx
17:45 Posted in Complete Random Junk! , Life , School , Science | Permalink | Comments (3) | Email this